Viking History Tour from Stockholm: Runestones & Burial Sites

Walk where Vikings walked: a burial ground, a causeway built by a Viking lord, and the runestones that tell their stories

A small-group tour from Stockholm heading north through the countryside to four Viking and medieval sites: Broby Viking graveyard where an influential woman named Estrid was buried, Jarlabanke's 150-meter bridge with its rune stone message, a Viking assembly place on a lakeshore, and Vallentuna church with its collection of runestones. A local guide in English or Swedish leads the tour, which includes hotel or cruise port pickup and takes 3 to 4 hours. Groups stay under 16 guests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Viking history tour around Stockholm

• Meet guide at accommodation
• Board tour vehicle and travel north
• Walk along Viking causeway and hear runestones
• Visit Viking burial site and learn about Estrid
• Visit Viking assembly place and learn about law
• Go to lake shore and learn about Viking ships
• Visit medieval church and explore runic inscriptions
• Return to Stockholm and drop off at accommodation

The experience

You start at your hotel or cruise port in central Stockholm and travel north into the countryside with a small group and a local guide. The route itself is part of the story: you cross Jarlabanke's bridge, a 150-meter causeway built by a powerful Viking leader a thousand years ago, and listen to the rune stone message carved into the rock that flanks it. The guide shares stories of real Viking people who lived on this land, grounding the history in names and places instead of abstractions.

The tour stops at four sites that show how Vikings lived and how their world changed. At Broby Viking graveyard, you learn about Estrid, an influential Viking woman buried there, and walk on the soil where Vikings themselves walked. The Viking assembly place sits on the shore of a lake, where you hear how Viking leaders made decisions about law and order and how they traveled by ship. Vallentuna church, built in 1190 AD, holds a famous collection of Jarlabanke's runestones on its walls and shows the moment Vikings shifted from paganism to Christianity. You see the interior and hear how the church itself marks that turning point in Scandinavian history.

The guide is a local driver who speaks English or Swedish, and the group stays small enough that you can ask questions and move at a pace that lets the details sink in. Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Stockholm are included, as well as pickup from most cruise ports. If your hotel is more than 3 kilometers from central Stockholm, you'll be given a nearby meeting point instead. The tour runs with a minimum of 2 passengers.

What’s included

• Small-group tour with a maximum of 16 guests.
• hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off in central Stockholm.
• local guide speaking English or Swedish.
• visits to Broby Viking graveyard, Jarlabanke's bridge with its rune stone, a Viking assembly place on the lakeshore, and Vallentuna church with its runestone collection.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and ThursdayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Sweden History Tours

Is this one for you?The small-group format keeps the experience intimate enough to ask your guide questions and linger at each site without feeling rushed. Choose this tour if you have a free afternoon in Stockholm and want to step outside the city to see where Vikings actually lived and left their mark, rather than reading about them in a museum.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Swedish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (under 13).

Who was Estrid, and why does the tour visit her burial site?

Estrid was an influential Viking woman buried at Broby Viking graveyard, one of the stops on the tour. The guide shares her story and explains her significance in Viking society as you walk the burial ground itself.

What can I see at Vallentuna church, and how does it connect to the Viking sites?

Vallentuna church, built in 1190 AD, holds a famous collection of Jarlabanke's runestones carved into its walls. The church shows how Vikings transitioned from paganism to Christianity, and the runic inscriptions link it directly to the Viking leader whose bridge you cross earlier in the tour.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel, and what if I'm staying outside central Stockholm?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Stockholm are included, as well as pickup from most cruise ports. If your hotel is more than 3 kilometers from central Stockholm, the operator will provide a nearby meeting point that is easy to reach.

How many people typically go on this tour, and will I be in a large group?

The tour is small-group, with a maximum of 16 guests total. A minimum of 2 passengers is required for the tour to run.

What is Jarlabanke's bridge, and what makes it significant?

Jarlabanke's bridge is a 150-meter causeway built by a powerful Viking leader centuries ago. A rune stone message is carved into the rock flanking the bridge, and the guide reads and explains the inscription as part of the tour.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not in great physical shape?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace includes walking at the sites, but there are no strenuous hikes or climbs required.